Folding machine



April 29, 1924.

G. BOULTON FOLDING MACHINE Filed Oct. l, 1920 2 Sheets-Sheet l April 29 1924.

G. BOULTON FOLDING MACHINE Filed ct. 1,

1920 2 Sheets-Sheet y2 N i 'i' STATES rrnr erica.

GEORGE BOULTON, OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO UNITED SHOE MACHIN- ERY CORPORATION7 OF PATERSON, NEVI JERSEY, A CORPORATION OT NEW JERSEY.

FOLDING MACHINE.

Application led October 1, 1920. Serial No. 413,957.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that l, GEORGE BoULToN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Folding Machines, of which the following description, in connec-A tion with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like reference characters on the drawings indicating like parts in the several figures.

This invention relates to a machine for operating upon pieces of work along paths which vary in their relation to each other and is herein illustrated as embodied in a machine for simultaneously folding the opposite diverging edges of a back stay.

Hitherto it has been customary to fold the edges ofl such ba-ckstays and similar blanks progressively one at a time either by hand or by machine. According to the present invention the work is fed past two tools and means is provided for varying the positions of the tools with respect to each other. In

the illustrative machine which is designed to operate upon a backstay the top of which is narrower than the bottom, two folders, which are normally spaced apart a proper distance to engage the opposite edges of the narrower end'of the stay are progressively moved farther apart as the stay is fed between them, the separation of the folders taking place in timed relation to the feeding movement of the work in such manner that the folders at all times maintain uniform enA gagement with the opposite edges of the stay. In order to ensure that the folds in the opposite edges of the stay shall be uniform throughout and equal in width a creaser is mounted in fixed relation to each V folder and means are provided for presenting each stay properly tothe folders. W ith such a machine the folding of the opposite edges of backstays and similar pieces of work the edges of which vary in their relation to each other is rendered more uniform than has hitherto been the case and may be accomplished in much less time.

rl'hese and other features of the invention,

including certain details of construction and combinations of partsvwill be described as embodied in an illustrative machine and pointed out in the appended claims.

Referring now to the accompanying draw- 1ngs,-

Fig. 1 is a perspective from the rear of a machine in which thepresent invention is embodied;

Fig. 2 is a detail in section through the middle of the feeding and pressing rolls;

Fig. 3 is a detail in perspective of a portion of the machine, a portion of a stay being shown as it appears near the end of the folding operation;

Fig. 4 is a perspective of a portion of the machine showing more particularly the lower roll, the folders and the work presenting member;

Fig. 5 is a perspective of one of the folders and its associated creaser;

Fig. 6 is a perspective of one of the plows and the slide upon which it is mounted;

` Fig. 7 is a plan showing al stay in the position in which it is presented to the folders;

Fig. 8 is a similar plan showing a stay the folding of the edges of which has been nearly completed, and

Fig. 9 is a perspective of a stay the edges of which have been partly folded.

Mounted in uprights 11 which are integral with the lbase 13 of the machine is a drive shaft 15 having at one end a loose pulley 17 to receive a driving belt and fastto the other end a gear 19, said gear meshing with a second gear 21 fast to a second shaft 23. The pulley is adapted to be rotated continuously and may beconnected with the shaft 15 at any time so as to impart a single revolution to the shaft by means of a one-revolution clutch. This clutch has not been shown since any suitable one-revolution clutch may be used. The treadle rod by manipulation of which the clutch may be thrown in is shown at 25. The gears 19 and 21 have the same number of teeth, and consequently, when the treadle-rod is pulled down, the shafts 15, 23 make one revolution in opposite directions and then come to rest in the position shown.

The upper shaft 23 is mounted in journal boxes, one being shown at 27, which are vertically slidable in guideways in the uprights 11 the boxes being urged downwardly at all times by springs 29 the tension of which may be varied by turning screw bolts 31 threaded through stationary cross-bars 33. Fast g Leonesa and the connections have not been shownV since any suitable unit may be employed and the details of its construction and of the connections to the wires 39 form no part of the'preseiit invention. The purpose of this electrical apparatus is toA heat the upper roll, and any suitable heating device, such for example as a gas flanie, may be used if desired.

Located in front of the work-feeding and fold-pressing rolls 35, 37 are two folders al, each having in its stem a slot i3 so that it be adjustably fastened by a sci-ew l5 to a slide 47. Each slide has its upper portion formed to fit in a straight-sided slot 49; and the slides are urged at all times toward each other by a coiled spring` l the ends of which are attached respectively to pins 53 driven into the slides. Carried by each slide with its axis extending downwardly andtoward the rear of the machine is a roller 55. The two rollers 55, one on each. slide 47, run upon cams57 carried at opposite ends of the lower roll The positions of the folders with respect to each other, therefore, depend upon the angular position of the roll and the cams 57. The cams in each case are shaped in accordance with the outline of the particular baclstay the edges of which are to be folded. ln the present case the particular baclrstay tapers regularly from its bottoni to its top, as best shown in Figs. 8 and 9, and consequently the cams 57 have a regular rise. lf the baelrstay to be operated upon had different outline from that of the one shown, a different pair of Canis would be provided. t will be understood, of course, that with given pair of cams the machine is adaptedto told the edges of backstays of only one particular shape, and that if a lot of baclrstays of a different shape are to be operated upon t1 e cams will be replaced by others of suitable contour.= Y The baclrstay 100, the opposite edges of which have been skived, is presentedto the folders with its narrower end foremost, as shown in Fig. 7 and, Vafter having been pushed forward by a worlr presenting; meinber presently to be described, is drawn through the machine between the folders i by the rotation of the rolls, thespreading apart of the folders thus taking place in timed relation to the feeding movement. This timed relation, whether brought about by the illustrated connection or some other connection Ybetween the feeding mechanism. and. the

mechanism for moving the folders at an angle to the line oi feed, is an important feature of the invention, since with such a construction the movement of the-folders with respect to the outlines of the edges of the work may be accurately controlled..

ln order to facilitate the folding lof the edges of the stay and to control. the width of the folds, there is provided in operative relation to each folder a creaser 59 in the forni of a stiff curved wire, each creaser in the illustrated machine being fastened to its respective folder byQa screw 61. Each creaser extends beneath the overhanging portion of the folder, there being sui'iicient space be,- low the creasers to permit the stay to be fed beneath them and sui'iicient space above the creasers to permit the folders to bend the edges of the stays over the creasers, the positions of the folders, creasers and stay during the folding` operation being best shown in Fig. 8.

ln order to push the forward. portion of the stay between the folders and present it to the feeding and fold-pressing rolls 35, 87, as well as to press the stay upon the table 63 during a portion of the folding and feeding operation, there is provided work-presenting` member comprisingY a forward rigid portion 65 having on its under side forward ly inclined teeth 67 and a rear spring; portion 69 fastened to or vintegral with the rifrid portion 65. This presenting niemberis fast downwardly at all times by a coiled spring 77 said spring bearing` at its lower end against the presenting member and its upper end againstthe under side of a lue, 79

which is rigid with the sleeve 73, A guiderod 8l, the lower end of which is fast to the presenting member and the upper end of which extends slidably through a bore in the lug;l 79 serves to prevent the presentingr inember from turning, A set-nut 83, threaded upon the upper portion of the rod 7l, serves to limit adjustably the extent of downward movement of the rod 71 and consequently of the presenting member. Located above the set-nut 83 is a loose sleeve 85, and above that is threaded a lock-nut 87. VAlifter the loclcnut 87 has been released, the setenut 83 may be turned to predetermineV the lowermost position which the presenting` member may occupy, so that the work-presenting member may be caused to exert the desired pressureV upon the stays. In Fifi'. 3 this presenting member is shown in its lowerniost position and resting upon a stay which is passing through the machine; but normally that is when no stay is being` manipulated) the pre- .senting member 65, 69 is held farther away lill iframe@ from the folders and farther above the table 63 as shown in Fig. 1 so that a stay to be folded may be placed beneath it.

In the operation of the machine a stay is placed upon the table 63 beneath the presenting member 65, 69 with its rear end resting against the end gage 89 and its side edge near the rear resting against the side gage 91 whereupon the treadle is depressed to impart one revolution to the shaft 15. This one revolution, besides rotating the rolls and operating the folders in the manner which has been clesciibed,-causes the presenting member 65, 69 to move downwardly and forwardly from the position shown in Fig. 1 to the position shown in Fig. 3 thereby pushing the stay forward over the table 63 until the forward end of the stay has passed between the folders to the bite of the rolls. Thereafter the'rolls feed the stay, the presenting member still holding it down upon the table until the folding operation is nearly complete at which time the presenting member is moved backwardly and upwardly again into the position shown in Fig. 1 and comes to rest. Referring more particularly to 'Figs 1 and 3. the mechanism for moving the presenting member will be described. The bar 7 5. which carries the sleeve 73, is slidable back and forth in brackets 93 which are fastened to stationary crossbars 95. Pivoted to the frame of the machine at 97 is a curved lever 99 having a slot at each end. Through one of the slots passes the stem of a screw 101 which is threaded into the slide-bar 75. Through the other slot passes a screw 103 which is threaded into a second slide-bar 105. Depending from the slide-bar 105 and rigid with it is a spool-shaped member l107 having fast to its lower end an arm 109` said arm carrying a roll 111 which runs on a cam 113 fast to the shaft 23. A. tension spring 115 is fast at one end to the stem of a screw 117 which is threaded into the curved lever 99, and at the other to a finger 119 which is rigidly fastened to the frame of the machine by a screw 121. The parts of the machine come to rest, as has been explained. in the positions shown in Fig. 1; audit will be seen Vthat the cam 113 is then holding the slide-bar 105 toward the rear of the machine. Consequently, because of the lever 99, the slide-bar is being held toward the front of the machine. As soon, however, as the treadle is depressed and the clutch thrown in to impart one revolution to the shaft 23 in the direction indicated by the arrow` the cam 113 is rotated so that the roll 111 rides ofi' from the raised portion of the cam and moves quickly toward the front of the machine carrying. the slide-bar 105 with it. rocking the curved lever 99 and moving the slide-bar 75, and consequently the presenting member 65, 69y toward the rear of the machine.` This movement, in connection with a component downward movement, presently to be described, presents the stay to the folders and the rolls, the cam 113 being shaped to permit the spring` 115 to hold the work-presenting member in this position until the stay has reached about the position shown in Fig. 3 andthcn to return it to the position shown in Fig. 1.

The upward and downward component of the movement of the work-presenting member is brought about as the result of its for-y ward and backward movement as follows:

Located at one side of the rod 71 is an arm 123, pivoted at 125 to one of the stationary cross-bars 95, a tension spring 127 being provided to urge the arm at all times toward one of the brackets 93 which acts as a stop. The spring is attached at one end tothe arm 123 and at the other to the stationary linger 119. At the outer, free end of the arm is a projection having an inclined surface 129 which is located so as to engage the underside of the nut- 83 on the rod 71 when the parts are in the positions shown in Fig. 1. .hen, therefore, the cam 113 is rotated and the roller 111-runs off the high part of the cam, the nut 83 rides down the incline 129 under the influence of the spring 7 7 and near the completion of the rotation of the cam 113, when the roller 111 rides up again upon the high part of the cam, the nut 83 rides up the incline 129. The nut 83, it will be remembered, is fast to the rod 71 which carries at its lower end the work-presenting member 65, 69, so that when the nut rides down the surface 129 the work-presenting member is lowered while it is at the same time movingy forward; and, when the nut rides up the incline, the work-presenting 1.05

Vmember is raised while at the saine time moving back to its initial position.

The gages 89 and 91 which facilitate the placing by the operator ofthe stay in proper position beneath the work-presenting member 65( 69, are adjustably fastened vto the vtable 63 by screws 131, 133l respectively which pass through slots in the gages and are threaded into the table. The gages may therefore be adjusted to provide for stays of different dimensions;

It has been stated that the arm 123,-which carries the incline 129,v is pivoted at 125 and is urged at all times into the position shown in the figures by a spring 127. This mounting of the arm permits it to be swung manually so as to remove the incline 129 from beneath the nut 83. This may be done to facilitate adjusting the work-presenting member 65, 69 to the proper distance above the table l63 to provide for a lot of stays of a given thickness. With the parts of the machine at rest as in Fig. 1. the arm 123 is swung to freethe incline 129 from engagement with the nut 83, thereby permitting the work-presenting member to be forced by the spring 77 to the lower limit of its movement. The lock-nut 87 may then be released and the adjusting nut 83 manipulated. until the work-presenting member is so spaced from the table 63 that it will exert the proper pressure upon the individual m embers of the particular lot of stays which are to be folded.

Before describing briefly the whole opere ation of the machine, attention is directed Vfolders will follow the opposite edges of the particular shape of stay which is to be operated upon.

Assuming that cams of the proper contour have been embodied in the machine that the nut 83 has been properly adjusted so that the work-presenting member 65, 69 will, when in lowered position, exert the proper pressure upon the stay, and that the gages 89, 91 have been properly adjusted in accordance with the ylength and width of the stay, the operator places a stay with its forward end about in the position shown in Fig. 7 and throws in the one-revolution clutch. The feeding and fold-pressing rolls 35, 37, as well as the cam 113, immediately begin to revolve. The roller 111 under the influence of the spring 115, moves quickly toward the front of the machine, thereby, through the connections which have been described, causing the slide-bar 7 5 to move toward the rear of the machine. This slidebar 75 carries with it the sleeve 7 3 and the rod 71 and nut 83, the nut riding down and oif from the incline 129. rllhe worl{-present ing member 65, 69 is thus moved downwardly and forwardly while the nut is in contact with incline 129, and continues its forward movement after the nut has ridden off from the incline. This whole movement takes place quickly and serves to push the forward end of the stay between the folders Zl1 into position to be engaged by the rolls 35, 37, it being understood that the edges of the forwardportion of the stay are turned over the creasers 59 beforeA the stay is seized by the rolls. yThereafter the rolls feed the stay and pressthe folds which are progressively formed by the action of the folders ll1 and creasers 59. As the stay is drawn along between the folders, the folders under the influence of the spring 51 and camsV 57 are moved transversely of the line of feed in such manner that the diverging edges of the 'stay are properly folded. During the greatnannten er part of the folding operation the workpresenting member 65, 69 remains in contact with the stay so as to hold it flat. At about the completion of the folding operation the cam 113 acts to return the work-presenting member to the backward, raised position shown in Fig. 1, where it comes to rest in posit-ion to have another stay placed beneath it. Y

Although the invention has been set forth as embodied in a particular machine, it should be understood that the invention is not limited in the scope of its application to the particular machine which has been shown and described.

Having thus described my invention, what l claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for folding the diverging, lengthwise-extending edges of a back-stay which is narrower at the top than at the bottom comprising folders arranged toengage the diverging edges, means for feeding the stay, narrow end foremost, and camcontrolled means for moving the folders apart in accordance with the gradually increasing distance between the two points on the back stay which are engaged by the folders. v 2. A. machine for operating upon a piece of work opposite edges of which vary in their relation to each other having, in combination, tools for engaging the opposite edges, means for feeding the work past the tools, and means for varying the relative positions of the tools with respect to each other during the feeding movement in accordance with the original contours of said opposite edges.

3. A machine for operating upon a piece of work opposite edges of which vary in their rela-tion to each other having, in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, means for feeding the work past the folders to fold the edges progressively, and means for varying the relativepositions of the folders with resnect to each other during the feeding movement.

Il. A machine for operating upon a piece of work opposite edges of which vary in their. relation to Veach other having, in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, means for feeding the work past the folders to fold the edges progressively,

and means for moving the folders in directions at an angle to the direction of feed during the feed movement. Y'

5. A machine for operating upon a piece of work opposite edges of which vary in their relation to each other havingin combinetion, folders forV engaging the opposite edges, means for feeding the work past the folders to fold the edges progressively, and means moving with the feeding means llt) ifleisa for moving the folders in directions at an angle to the direction of the feed movement.

6. A machine for operating upon a piece of work opposite edges of which vary in their relation to each other having, in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, means for feeding the work past the folders to fold the edges progressively, and means for varying the relative positions of the folders with respect to each other in timed relation to the operation of the feeding means.

7. A machine for operating upon the o pposite edges of a piece of work the width of which varies at different localities having, in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, means for feeding the work past the folders, and means for varying the distance between the folders during the feeding movement in accordance with the variations in the width of the work.

8. A machine for operating upon opposite diverging edges of a piece of work having, in combination, opposed folders for engaging the opposite edges, means for feeding the work past the folders, and means for moving the folders transversely of the direction of the feed movement in timed relation to the operation of the feeding means to compensate for the divergence o-f the edges.

9. A machine for folding opposite edges of a piece of work having, in combination, a pair of opposed folders, normally spaced apart a predetermined distance, means for feeding the work past the folders with the opposite edges of the work in operative relation to the folders, and means operating in timed relation to the feeding means for varying the distance between the folders during the feeding of the work.

10. A machine for operating upon a piece of work opposite edges of which vary in their relation to each other having, in combination, foldersfor engaging the opposite edges, slides upon which the folders are mounted, means for feeding the work between the folders, cams for operating the slides, and means for operating the feeding means and the cams in timed relation.

1l. A machine for operating upon the opposite edges of a piece of work, the width of which varies at different localities having, in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, means for feeding the work past the folders, and cams for moving the folders in directions at an angle to the direction of the feed movement, said cams being shaped to cause the folders to be moved in accordance with the outlines of the edges. Y p

12. A machine for operating upon a piece of work opposite edges of which vary in their relation to each other having, in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, means for varying the relative positions of the folders as the work is fed between them, and means for feeding the work and for pressing the'folds.

13. A machine for operating upon a piece of work opposite edges of which vary in their relation to each other having, in combination, ,folders for engaging the opposite edges, means for varying the relative positions of the folders as the work is fed between them, and means located in the rear of the folders for feeding thev work and for pressing the folds.

14. A machine for operating upon a. piece of work opposite edges of which vary in their relation to each other having, in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, a pair of work-feeding and foldpressing rolls located in the rear of the folders, cams for moving the folders during the feeding of the work, and means for driving the rolls and cams in timed relation.

15. A machine for operating upon a piece of work opposite edges of which vary in their relation to each other having, in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, means for feeding the work past the folders to fold the edges progressively, means for presenting the work to the feeding means, and means for varying the relative positions of the folders with respect to each other during the feeding movement.

16. A machine for operating upon the opposite edges of a piece of work having, in combination, folders for engaging the edges, means located in the rear of the folders for drawing the work past the folders, means l0- cated in front of the folders for presenting the work to the folders, and means for moving the folders in directions transverse to the direction of the feed movement.

17. A machine for operating upon the opposite edges of a piece of work having, in

combination, folders arranged to engage the edges and form folds in them, work-feeding and fold-pressing rolls located at the rear of the folders, means for moving the folders transversely of the direction of feed movement, a work-presenting member located -in front of the folders, and means for moving said member downwardly and toward the folders and for holding it down during the foldin of the forward portions of the edges.

18. machine for operating upon the opposite edges of a piece of work having, in-

combination, folders arranged to engage the edges, creasers carried by the folders, workfeeding and fold-pressing rolls located at the rear of the folders, means for moving the folders and with them the creasers transversely of the direction of feed movement, a work table, a work-presenting member normally spaced above the table to permit a piece of work to be placed upon the table beneath the member, and means for moving said member downwardly and toward the folders.

19. A machine for operating upon opposite edges of a piece of Work, having in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, means for feeding the work between and past the folders and for moving the folders toward and from each other, and creasers associated With the folders and m0vable with them.

20. A machine for operating upon opposite Y edges of a piece of Work, having in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, work feeding and fold pressing rolls,

cams carried by one of the rolls and adapted to vary the distance between the folders, and means for driving the rolls.

2l. A machine for operating upon opposite edges of a piece of Work, having in combination, folders for engaging the opposite edges, Work feeding and fold pressing rolls, cams carried by one of the rolls and adapted to vary the distance between the folders, means for driving the rolls, and means for hea-ting one of the rolls.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

` GEORGE BOULTON. 

